The Bay Of Pigs: The Presidency Of John F. Kennedy

What do people think of when they hear “America”? They begin to think of freedom, individualism, and creativity. What about laissez-faire? Or friendliness? Or a good reputation? Not so much. Before the Era of the New Frontier, presidents were responsible and trustworthy, and are the presidents people are most familiar with: George Washington, John Adams, Abraham Lincoln. However, during the mid-20th century, things took a sharp turn when John F. Kennedy became inaugurated as the president of the United States on January 20, 1961. Presidents to come were plagued by the failures of John F. Kennedy’s presidency for numerous years. The Presidency of John F Kennedy contained various covert actions that damaged the United States’ foreign relations …show more content…
Kennedy exacerbated the tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States through the Bay of Pigs Invasion and his failed attempts to cover up his foibles. Kennedy approved a Central Intelligence Agency scheme planned under the Eisenhower Administration to employ Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro’s communist regime in Cuba, known as the “Bay of Pigs Invasion”. Both Kennedy and the nation’s reputation within the Soviet Union were extraordinarily hurt by the insulting invasion, as described by Alan Brinkley: “Outside the United States, the aftermath of the Bay of Pigs was a major blow to Kennedy’s international reputation, and nowhere more than in the Kremlin.”(Brinkley, 70). The Bay of Pigs Invasion further inflamed the ongoing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union that continue to this day. This strain on the relationship between the two countries made it nearly impossible for future presidents to attempt to negotiate amends and maintain international trade with the Soviet Union. The Soviet-US relationship became irreparable from the Bay of Pigs Invasion. “The Soviet government, as well as its people, held irate attitudes towards president Kennedy and the United States of America because of the invasion and the dropping of bombs in Cuban cities.” (Brinkley, 71). The Soviet Union was not by any means amused by the Bay of Pigs Invasion, and in effect sent a letter to Kennedy; this stated that the US had in fact invaded upon Cuba. The Soviet’s knowledge of the invasion worried Americans, whose attitudes became increasingly more isolationist and neutral towards foreign affairs. Similarly, Kennedy inflamed tensions with the Soviet Union through lies. Kennedy attempted and failed to try and repair his international reputation from the damage the Bay of Pigs Invasion had caused by reaffirming the fact that he hadn’t invaded upon Cuba and by contradicting himself upon that. “‘I have previously stated, and I repeat now,